Gecko Quilts Circle Lord Scrap Book

Square Dancing on a Mood Swing

2011-06-23T14:36:00.000-07:00

Ok so it's been a while since I last posted here, excuses? I have lots, but none that add up to much except that I have just been too busy to quilt my own quilt tops let alone play with my Circle Lord (remember the CL was a purchase that I made for my own quilts, and not for my customers). Now that it is summer and business has slowed down a bit, my MIL is finally moved in and settled, I am trying to get some of my quilt tops quilted and what better way to do them, than with my CL big templates.

This quilt pattern is called Mood Swings made using a Bali Pop. It will be hanging on my dining room wall once I bind it.

I quilted it using the CL Square Dancing big template and the thread I used

was Superior Lava color #248

I just love this template, it was so easy to use!

I was afraid to use it on this quilt because I usually use curvy quilting designs on quilts that are are so geometric, to help soften all the sharp angles.

But as you can see from these pics that the sharp angles from the design template really works well with this strong geometric quilt pattern. I guess you never really know until you try it out.

This was so quick, easy, and fun to do. So I am offering it to all of customers at a discount if they sign up as a follower to one or both of my blogs. The discount is only good until Nov. 18, 2011. If your interested call me for details.

It's Been A Couple of Months...

2010-10-13T19:21:00.000-07:00

But I finally got some time to play with my Circle Lord!

One of the reasons I wanted a CL was to be able to do crosshatching on these Christmas Stockings, they were started a few years back but ended up in my UFO's. When we found out that we were going to be moving into a new house before the holidays, I knew I wanted to have our first Christmas with these stockings so I have been working hard at finishing them and the CL's 5/8" crosshatching template made quilting these so easy and very quick!

Here's all 8 of them (originally there were only going to be 7, but since my MIL is moving in with us I decided to make her one to match the rest of ours.

And here is the close up of the 5/8" crosshatching, perfectly straight lines! You just gotta love the way the CL is so percise. It's worth every penney and some!

Finally Finished

2010-07-29T00:32:00.000-07:00

Life has gotten pretty crazy here since I last posted 2 months ago. My machinne went back for a spa treatment, then I had a problem with a bad circuit board (but that was quickly fixed). Then the kids started summer break and we decided 6 weeks ago to build a new house!, I know... never a dull moment around here, lol anyways the new house won' be ready for a few months (we will be closing the first week of Nov if all goes well, just in time for my B-day).

However I have managed to finish the Tumbler quilt that I wanted to use the Swirls big board on, it's been done for a few weeks, just didn't have the time to post it here until now.

I love the texture the Swirls board gives a quilt, you only have to see this design stitched out on a quilt to understand why this board is so popular!

It will probably be a while before I get a chance to play again with my CL, even though I have a small quilt I want to do some cross hatching on. Because I need to work on some customer quilts and start packing up a house.

Expecting!!!

2010-05-05T11:48:00.000-07:00

I am so excited...I am expecting a HUGE delivery of CL products on Thursday, tomorrow!

With this purchase I will own almost every CL template there is, with a few exceptions. I have no idea where I am going to store all of these wonder templates, for now they will find space on my dining room table (I have a huge table). But there is sadness, since my Liberty will be at the factory getting spiffy I will not be able to play until she gets back and sporting her new edgerider wheels.

In the mean time I need to make some changes to my website to include the CL big boards as design options for my customers, restock my thread supply (the snow bird's quilts have depleted my thread stash) and organize my CL binder.

I will post pics of my new toys when they arrive. :0)

Piecing For Swirls Update

2010-04-21T13:54:00.000-07:00

Sunday I was working on my piecing for swirls quilt, I was able to get another 4 rows done on it. Here is a pic so far....

But I realised that I miscalculated how many tumbler patches I needed, to do a queen sz quilt. I only have enough fabric left to do 2 more rows :0( I need 17 rows for a queen size quilt, it will be 7 rows short. I already checked on line for more fabric (it's several years old from my stash) so no luck in finding all of it, was able to find the dk red and black paw print fabric though. So to salvage this works in progress I will have to adapt to my situation and alter my quilt layout a bit. I decided to add 3 strips of fabric (each different) on the top and the bottom of the quilt. This will give me the size I wanted. I will finish piecing this one while my APQS Liberty is at the spa.

Another Quilt

2010-04-21T13:35:00.000-07:00

Yesterday after my customer appointments I didn't feel like quilting. I have alot of unfinished projects (all in full view) calling me. So I caved and finished piecing one that I started several weeks ago that I put a tease out..do you remember this?

Well now it is this....

Lots of color!, & lots of Geckos :0) Now just need to find time to quilt it with my CL. Won't be until after my APQS Liberty comes back from it's spa treatment in May though. So this works in progress is still on going, at least for now anyway, lol

New Look

2010-04-13T02:57:00.000-07:00

I have found some FREE blog layout templates and are trying them out, to see if I like them. So far this one fits the best, love the colors, goes well with my logo and got to love the circles, and the orange peel designs on the background papers...ties nicely into the whole "Circle Lord" scrapbook theme of this blog, don't you think?

I am a professional quilter and I have the CL tools to prove it!

2010-04-10T11:30:00.000-07:00

Ok so there are worst things in life than being addicted to CL templates, and personally I love this addiction because it feeds my creative side.

I just placed an order to buy more templates :0)
I should have all of them by the end of the month. With this order which I used the 12 month payment plan I was able to get....
1) mini featherz/spider web
2) stella
3) heartz
4) starz
5) ovals
6) gingko/gingko mini
7) crosshatch
8) mini clamshells
9) spirals
10) sq spirals
11) squarz
12) sunburst
13) zig zag
14) fan clam
15) rope
16) cable
17) sq dance

I told you I was addicted, lol! Well anyways this will be it for my buying anymore until this is paid off then next year I will get the curved crosshatch, 7 Treasures, and anything new that comes out that I might like. :0)
The only templates that I plan on using on customer quilts are the big boards the rest are going to be used on my own personal quilts, I know it's very indulgent of me but my business is 5 years old and this is my way of celebrating. Life/ business is good.

Piecing For Swirls

2010-04-03T14:27:00.000-07:00

I am in the process of making a queen sz quilt for my soon to be 14 yr old daughter so I could use the CL Swirls board on it. I chose to keep it simple so I am using the tumbler shape to do a patch quilt, then I will quilt it using the CL swirls boards on it to bring it alive.

This is what 4 of the 17 rows look like so far. I plan on working some more on it this weekend.

Keeping It Together

2010-04-03T14:19:00.000-07:00

The other day I went to Staples to pick up a new binder to use as my design book for my business. My old one was falling apart and it was embarrassing to show to my customers when they came by to drop off their quilts.

It also was the same day of one of Deb Levy's CL video classes at MQR where she showed her own binder of CL instructions. I decieded right then that it would be a good idea for me to do the same with the info that was comming with my CL templates and info/ pics of things I saw & liked. So since I was already going to Staples I would pick up another binder for the CL stuff.
This is what I got.....

Pretty cool, huh? This is a 4" "Better Built" staples binder and it comes in alot of cool colors, black, white, orange, turquoise, & pink. I also got 20 dividers (to start) and quite a few page protecters too.

I plan on having a section for the CL basic info then for each template that I get as well. I also Plan on putting print outs of the visualizers/codes/pics of the designs I like in the sizes that I would use most often. This way when I am thinking what to do on a quilt I can just go to my CL binder and choose the designs and plan out the quilting before I even get to the machine. This will be an ongoing work in progress and most likely expand to more than one binder. But deffinately better than just letting all of those papers, instruction sheets just lay loose or getting lost.

Japanese Jigsaw Puzzle

2010-03-28T01:11:00.000-07:00

I had this wall quilt for a while, just waiting for me to quilt it. When I first finished it I had no idea of how I would quilt it. But when talk of the CL challenge began I finally knew how this quilt had to be quilted. Piano Keys in the border (using the CL Tiles template) and Diamonds (using the CL Diamonds template).

I will post more pics when I get a chance to take some of the quilt outside in the day light.

This quilt had a lot of first for me. It was the first time I used the Tiles template (was so easy to use, will use alot in the future). First time using the Diamonds template (can't wait to use it in a border). The first time I used 2 battings (used warm and natural and Hobb's polydown) I was looking to give the quilting more definition, and boy did it. I can see why so many use 2 bats especially when enter quilts in shows. I also used "Sanford Verithin" drawing pencil #734/Blanc and a fabric eraser to help with marking the placement of the border. I bought the fabric eraser years ago but never used it. Let me just say this...it is so much better than messing with all that chalk/pounce pads and dry erase markers. I bet it would be pretty good with stencils too. I also use the #753 metalic silver pencil as well when I have marked 1/2 sq triangles for piecing. You can get the pencils at any art supply store.

I had a lot of fun quilting this quilt, learned alot (like I need to measure better for marking piano key borders...I hate math :0( so they come out evenly spaced without being able to detect where I fudged/stretched the keys).

CL Challenge Quilt

2010-03-22T10:58:00.000-07:00

Well I finished a CL challenge quilt over the weekend. I was inspired by the movie Coco Channel, her designs were simple, classic. This particular quilt is based on one scene in the movie, when Coco ripped apart a black dress her niece was wearing and draped a white chiffon shear (that was being used as a window treatment) over her niece's head as a scarf...stood back and said "that's classic Channel".

This is the front of the quilt, I used the CL Sprio Thingy in all of the white blocks as well as the 4 corner black blocks. In the remaing black blocks I used the Aztec Mini template. I also embelished the center of the blocks with a contrasting applique circle and a button to add to the fun.

This is what the back looks like. There is a lot going on.

I wrote down the design block codes as I did each block and will do a blog post in the near future that will show a close up of each block and it's code and block size if anyone would like to recreate a block.

There were several blocks that were a total suprise when I was stitching them, for instance the corner blocks. When I was doing the first one it looked to me like a thistle flower so I added a stem with a wave ruler and decided to rotate the design in each of the corners to "frame" the quilt.

CL Challenge Quilt

2010-03-19T19:54:00.000-07:00

Saturday I will be working on a CL challenge quilt, using the CL Basic Plus and the Aztec templates. The quilt was inspired from the Coco Channel movie that I watched last weekend. It's amazing where one gets inspiration from. A movie, a fabric, a shape...it can come from anything & anywhere. I will be posting it to the APQS forum when it's done. Shouldn't take too long to do...I have been going over my ideas in my head all week while I was quilting customer quilts. The only thing I kept changing my mind on was what color thread to use, solid or varigated or even mono-poly. There won't be any background fill, think simple, but elegant, think Channel. LOL!

I am also working on another CL project tonight, getting some more piecing done on it. The fabrics are in the "Works in Progress" section of this blog. I want to get it to at least the half way point this weekend.

Then next weekend I am going to be quilting a "Japanese Jigsaw Puzzle" quilt using the CL and entering it into the challenge. I don't think I will win anything because there are so many beautiful quilts already entered. It's going to be very hard to choose just a few that deserve the prizes, because they all look awesome.

Stablizing Your Up Front Circle Lord

2010-03-13T20:48:00.000-08:00

If you choose the "Up Front" stylus system for your Circle Lord Basic Plus then you will need to stabalize the template base (this is the grey plastic piece that the templates atatch to). There are several ways to do this.....

1) you could go with Michaels suggestion and use the corrgugated cardboard

This is the least expensive method, the cardboard you see in the above pic is what I found in the box that my Circle Lord came in, so it didn't cost me any additional $. But over time it won't hold up very well.

2) You could go to Home Depot and purchase Plexi-Glass and velcro adhesive

The Plexi-glass that you see here was a pre-cut 18"X24" .220 thickness (This was the perfect size for my APQS Liberty machine if you have a larger machine the size you need will be larger than the 18"), it sits on top of my quilt top roller and my levelor roller then I place the white arm pieces of the basic CL unit on top of the plexi-glass. If you want to secure the CL arms to the plexi-glass then you can use the vecro adhesive strips. I found the above at Home Depot as well. Just make sure that you get the one that is for plastics.

To do this you would place a hook side of velcro to the under side of each of the white CL arms then put the loop side of the velcro strip on the plexi-glass after you get it to where you like it. This set up is not bad $ wise...the plexi-glass was $19.25 and the velcro was little over $3.00. But it is very sturdy everything is perfectly level and will last a long time, that is if you don't drop it on a tile floor and crack it (I did this to one of my arcrylic rulers).

3) The thrid option is to use a Pattern Port (I believe Mary Beth came up with this idea)

I got the pattern port from http://www.thepatternman.com/ just put pattern port in the search and they will pop up for all the different styles of machines. Since my machine is smaller than the APQS Millie I had to go with the HQ16 size is sells for $69.00. This is far the most expensive way to go but if you already have one of these laying around like I did then use it. Works great.

Thimbleberries Month to Month

2010-03-13T13:11:00.000-08:00

This quilt is one of my own, and I wanted to use a more traditional design that was was an ETE design.

The Fan Clam large boards were just what I was looking for. I would never have quilted the baptist fan without it. My only regret was that I never found the right quilt to use the clamshell side of the board before I had to sell my 1st CL set up. This one is deffinately on my new wish list of boards to buy.

Pretty in Pink

2010-03-13T13:05:00.000-08:00

This quilt again had alot of busy fabrics but some areas the quilting does show!

Used the aztec template on this one and then did a panto for the "my favorite leaves" border.

On Point

2010-03-13T12:54:00.000-08:00

Again another very busy quilt but the customer wanted custom.

I used the Aztec template in a variety of different designs. Great quilt but deffinately needed a darker thread color to show off all the cool aztec designs.

Diagonals

2010-03-13T12:44:00.000-08:00

This quilt had alot of diagonals on it that my customer wanted to carry over into the quilting.

With the CL crosshatch templates it was really easy to do.

Sweet Treats

2010-03-13T12:33:00.000-08:00

This was a lap quilt that my daughter Rachel did.

She chose the swirls large boards for her quilt.

Batik Aztec

2010-03-13T12:29:00.000-08:00

This was a gorgeous batik quilt that a customer wanted custom on.

I used the aztec template in the blocks then used the rope in the multi colored border and the double clam shells (from the fan clam large boards) in the blue border. Unfortunately the thread color blends too much into the quilt to really see alot of detail.

Another Strip Quilt

2010-03-13T12:20:00.000-08:00

The great thing about strip quilts is, they are quick and the Circle Lord tools make them easy.

I used the rope large board on this quilt.

Shop Sample

2010-03-13T11:34:00.000-08:00

This quilt was a shop sample for one of my LQS here in Mesa.

I used the swirls large board on this one, went vey quickly.

Going in Circles

2010-03-13T11:29:00.000-08:00

This quilt was a large king sz quilt done in all homespuns.

I used the large Swirls boards on this one.

Pretty Spirals

2010-03-13T01:27:00.000-08:00

Every time I would use the spiral template it put a smile on my face.

I did the spiral template in all of the blocks, even when there were only partial drunkards path designs. The spirals help bridged the gap between what was and what wasn't. I also ditched around the squares of the blocks and the inner border then I added a bamboo border in the outer border.

Pinwheels in Motion

2010-03-13T01:20:00.000-08:00

This quilt after quilted looked like it was spinning in some areas.

I used the Spiral template in all of the squares, then stitched in the ditch for the inner border.

Chain Quilt

2010-03-13T01:14:00.000-08:00

This quilt had alot of open spaces to play but the fabrics were a bit busy for showing off the quilting.

I used the Featherz Wreath template in the floral spaces in the center of the quilt, Sally Twist in the 2" squares and for the borders I did free hand leaves in the inner border and the Featherz Border template for the outer border with the feather wreath in the corners. Came out really nice, but wished the thread was darker so it showed up better...the thread was a light yellow.

Strip Quilt

2010-03-13T01:03:00.000-08:00

This quilt was fun to do, and really easy with the CL tools.

I used the 18" crosshatching template in the pieced strips and a pantogragh in the large floral areas. Seperated of course with stitch in the ditch.

The back really shows off the texture of the quilting.

Lots of Open Spaces

2010-03-13T00:56:00.000-08:00

This quilt had a large open block as the center of the quilt. So I used the regular Aztec template to break up the center. The thread color blended with the fabric so well that I had to squint to see what I quilted.

I also used the crosshatching template in the pieced border and the Squares template in the large outer border.

Chicago Sports

2010-03-13T00:48:00.000-08:00

This is a quilt I designed for my MIL to do for my BIL RJ a few years back.

I used the Squares template to frame the embroideries. Then I used the rope large template for the black border and finally the clam shell border design on the fan clam large template.

Puzzle Quilt

2010-03-13T00:39:00.000-08:00

This is a quilt I used the Circle Lord on when I had it the first time.

I used the CL basic for the concentric circles alternated with concentric squares by using the squares template. Very quick and very easy to do.

Circle Lord is Back in the House

2010-03-12T23:49:00.000-08:00

I recently repurchased the Circle Lord ("Bling" for my APQS Liberty) and it was delivered today! Actually it wasn't until 7:30pm when it was delivered, I thought that maybe it wouldn't make it until Monday, every time a truck passed the house I would go look, but no nothing. So didn't get to play today.
I did however cut out a quilt today to make into a 42" sq wall hanging so I could play with the CL on it. Here is a little teaser, the fabrics that will be used in the quilt. Do you see the geckos? Pretty cool, huh?

The quilt pattern will allow me to add alot of different things using the CL basic plus and also the Aztec & Aztec mini templates.